Vox Microphones, 1960-1968

1960

From late 1959 Jennings embarked upon a gradual expansion of its line of accessories - Meazzi echo units by late autumn 1959; followed around a year later (by November 1960 at the latest) by Reslo ribbon microphones. Chief among the Reslos was the "Celeste" - model "RBH", 30-50 ohms impedance. This was first illustrated in the brochure of early spring 1961 and remained in the Jennings catalogue through to 1963.

Mics supplied to Jennings were emblematised "VOX" rather than "RESLO". Mics supplied by Reslo to "GEC" were likewise given special badging.

Melody Maker magazine, 19th November, 1960. The guitar accessories and three-input Meazzi Echos were relatively new also at this point. All else (as far as accessories are concerned) goes back to 1958.

Page 8. "Aids to Music" - Reslo microphone, Meazzi Echo, Volume Pedal, Accordion microphone, Vibravox, and PA speaker.

JMI catalogue, autumn 1963, detail, the Reslo "Celeste" still available

It is clear that early on Jennings stamped most (though not all) of its mics with serial numbers. The one below, with a slightly worn roundel (originally black, not bright red), is number "125". Whether the sequence began at "0" or "100" is not known at present.

It should be recorded that a mic of the type pictured above survives with no stamped number (thanks to Martin for the info.). As for packaging, JMI generally supplied the mics in their blue Reslo boxes, a Vox label applied to the outside, a set of instructions enclosed within. An example from early 1965 can be seen towards the end of this page.

Detail from the JMI pricelist of January 1963. Two models of Reslo, a telescopic floorstand (also made by Reslo), two models of Shure microphone, the older accordion and piano mics, and guitar pickups.

1961 - 1964: the Vox Radio Microphone

Detail from the JMI dealer's catalogue of 1964. The wireless mic was first signalled in late 1962.

A separate page has been set up on the various versions of the .

1964 - 1965

1964 marked a vast expansion in the range of public address equipment offered by Jennings - a new range of public address amplifiers, column speakers and microphones to accompany. Full set-ups from 15-100W (and more) could be provided. In September 1964, a new company was set up to handle sales - "Vox Sound Equipment Limited".

Tom's co-director was Eric Summer, chairman of Royston Industries, the group that maintained a controlling interest in JMI. Profits generated by VSEL will have been separate, however, from those of JMI, which had just hitched its fortunes in the USA to the Thomas Organ Company. Vox Public Address equipment was not part of the American deal.

The inside pages of the brochure sent to dealers shortly after the new company had been created. The text is pure Tom:

Below, the roster of microphones advertised by JMI in the autumn of 1964 - by no means the "full line", simply a representative selection. The pricelist of late 1964 encompasses over thirty different models.

The mics were made (in some instances expressly for JMI) by Grampian and Reslo in the UK, and Kent and Shure in the USA. Model VL1 - "Vox Dynamic Stick Type" (pictured in the lowest row in the advert below) - was made by Grampian, for example.

"Precision in Sound" newspaper-format catalogue, autumn 1964.

Detail from an advert placed by JMI in the music trade press, December 1964.

It worth noting that Reslo mics (and others) with cylindrical bodies were never stamped by JMI. On the right below, an early RBH/TS microphone produced and labelled for VOX, Reslosound Limited not mentioned on the label. On the left, a later unit (now termed a RBTS/H), "Reslosound Ltd" in bold.

Earlier mic on the right, later at left.

Below, the RBH/TS as illustrated in the Vox "Precision in Sound" newspaper-format catalogue of autumn 1964. "VOX" in letters above the switch is the draughtman's addition.

A Vox Reslo RBH/TS from late 1964 / early 1965 with its original box and JMI instructions. A few of these original sets still survive.

On this microphone, as on some others, the "VOX" logo is on the right-hand side of the red label on its neck.

Cover of the JMI Microphones brochure of 1965.